Bankrupt-Flexible working request 2 March 2022 at 3:33PM in Employment, jobseeking & training 14 replies 1.2K views

Usernamenumber2000

Due to the pandemic and me being high risk I was redeployed to working at home and stay with my parents in North West England. My original base of work is in North West Wales. 


My employer wants me to return to my post, but I have been the victim of fraud and am bankrupt. ALL of my wages goes back to paying debts from loans, credit cards etc amassing over 100k. The bank won't refund the money and I cannot afford a solicitor.

From a financial point of view, I cannot move back to Wales, afford accommodation, living costs etc. Plus the English police are investigating this and criminal court will be held in England also. I do not drive as I am partially blind.

Is it reasonable for me to continue working at home doing redeployment work from an employers perspective? 

Does my employer have enough reason to reject my request? Please be thoughtful as I am in a vulnerable place right now after losing everything.


Thanks for any advice.

[Deleted User]

If your employer feels it would be detrimental to their business then yes, they can reject your request.

When you put in your flexible working request, you need to put forward a case that demonstrate the business would not suffer. But permanent working from home is a very big ask of any employer, even in these times.

Usernamenumber2000

I do have a strong sense that they will reject it, so it does feel like I should not even bother. I don't see any hope at all 

From their perspective they are hiring locums to do the work, which is a cost to them.

The only scenario I can forsee is me losing my job and just claiming benefits. I will just have to stay bankrupt.

theoretica

It will depend on your employer and the details of their business and your job if it is reasonable for you to work from home for longer.  Some jobs will be, others won't.

I am disturbed by the fact you are not being left enough money to live off - that should be a priority.

Have you legally and officially gone bankrupt, or are you using the term informally for unsustainable debt?  In formal bankruptcy, you should be left enough to live on, though it can be harder to find a place to rent.  If informal and your bank is just taking your wages, then you can open a new bank account with a totally separate organisation and get your wages paid there instead.

Usernamenumber2000

My employer is the national health service. 
My previous role was assessing and treating patients with biomechanical problems.

My redeployment role now consists of contacting covid 19 patients and triaging.

I am using the term bankrupt as you say unsustainable debt. To file for bankruptcy it costs £680, money that I dont have. I used up my whole wage for this month to pay 1 of many loans. 

Keep in mind I am in constant overdraft and racking interest charges on multiple accounts, as well as credit cards. 

Jude57

Usernamenumber2000 said:

My employer is the national health service. 
My previous role was assessing and treating patients with biomechanical problems.

My redeployment role now consists of contacting covid 19 patients and triaging.

I am using the term bankrupt as you say unsustainable debt. To file for bankruptcy it costs £680, money that I dont have. I used up my whole wage for this month to pay 1 of many loans. 

Keep in mind I am in constant overdraft and racking interest charges on multiple accounts, as well as credit cards. 

It looks as though your debt situation needs to be addressed properly. To be blunt, your debts are not your employer's concern and won't affect whether they would permit continued working from home.

I'd recommend you seek independent debt advice from StepChange Debt Charity:

https://www.stepchange.org/

Or from CAB:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/

They can help and support you in dealing with your creditors, even if it seems insurmountable just now. Please contact them, being careful to use the links I've posted to avoid lookalike sites, or post on the DebtFreeWannabe board of this site where the regular posters can help you get your head around your options.

SiliconChip

The point of bankruptcy is to stop paying unaffordable loans, so next month you could spend the money on filing and not repaying any of the loans. You really need proper advice from one of the debt charities such as StepChange, and you should also post on the Debt Free Wannabe board to get help on here. If you do things properly you may be able to relocate and keep your job.

Cross posted with  @Jude57

Marcon

Usernamenumber2000 said:

My employer is the national health service. 
My previous role was assessing and treating patients with biomechanical problems.

My redeployment role now consists of contacting covid 19 patients and triaging.

I am using the term bankrupt as you say unsustainable debt. To file for bankruptcy it costs £680, money that I dont have. I used up my whole wage for this month to pay 1 of many loans. 

Keep in mind I am in constant overdraft and racking interest charges on multiple accounts, as well as credit cards. 

Please have a look at this link. 'Breathing space' (official name Debt Respite Scheme) sounds as if it really could be helpful: https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/breathing-space-scheme.aspx?channel=ppc&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0Lzd9ven9gIVTOrtCh0u4QrWEAAYASAAEgLsLPD_BwE

bargainbetty

Have you reported the fraudulent loan applications to the police and Action Fraud? If you can demonstrate that the applications were made without your knowledge or consent, then you should have grounds to have the debts set aside. 

If the debts were taken out by a family member, you will be required to report them for fraud. 

Usernamenumber2000

It was reported to Action Fraud, then passed to the police. They are gathering evidence to pass onto the crime prosecution service. 

Usernamenumber2000

I already spoke to StepChange and they basically spoke to the bank and loan companies. The debts owed were just extended over a longer period.

Even if I go to civil court, I am not guaranteed any payment back from the fraudster.